Case Management Outcomes for Drug-Involved Offenders

Abstract

An assertive community treatment (ACT) program was established in the Delaware correctional system in 1990, designed to ease the transition of drug-involved prison releasees into the community by providing both treatment and case management services. Studies to date, however, have found few direct outcome improvements for ACT clients. This article uses panel data collected from a sample of 300 drug-involved Delaware prison releasees, randomly assigned to either the ACT program or to regular probation/work release supervision. A multivariate path model predicts frequency of illegal drug use 18 months after release from prison. Analyses find no direct effects of the ACT program, but suggest indirect effects of ACT assignment on subsequent illegal drug use through intermediate outcomes. By looking at proximate outcomes of the ACT program in the context of other variables, this model suggests areas where case management with seriously drug-involved offenders can be most effective.